Receiver-hook for telephones.



PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

D. HOWARD.

RECEIVER HOOK FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1906.-

29721329 fiznzrai ZNVEN 7 0R.

A TTOR/VE Y5 WITNESSES DENIS HOWARD, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

RECEIVER -HOOK FOR TELEPHONES.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1 906.

Application filed January 16. 1906. Serial No. 296. 117.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DENIS HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Receiver-Hook for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephones, and more particularly to improved mechanism for automatically transmitting identifying or selective signaling impulses.

The object of the invention is to provide means for signaling the central officewhen any particular subscriber is using the telephone and means for notifying said subscriber of any intruder on the line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch-hook having a plurality of circuit make and break members for indicating the number of the local station as the receiver is removed from or placed upon the hook.

A still further object is to form the switchhook with interchangeable contact members movable by gravity to operative position for transmitting the signaling impulses.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes in form, proportions, and general assemblage of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a call-box, showing my improved switch-hook applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the switch-hook detached. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view showing several subscribers stations. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a hook, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved hook is especially designed for use in connection with telephones on party-lines, and byway of illustration several subscribers stations (indicated, respectively, at A, B, C, and D) are shown in diagram, each station having a telephone provided with my improved switch-hook 5.

The hook 5 is preferably formed of a flat bar of metal, one end of which is bifurcated and twisted at right angles to the body portion to form a support for the receiver 6, the opposite end. of the bar being offset at 7 to form a seat for a segmental contact-plate S. The intermediate portion of the hook is provided with an aperture 9, adapted to receive a p1vot-pin 10, which passes through alined openings in a supportingbracket 11, the latter being secured in any suitable manner to the interior walls of the call-box or casing 12.

The plates 8 are interchangeable and detachably secured to the offset portions of hooks by bolts or similar fastening devices 13, each plate being provided at its curved edge 14 with one or more laterally-projecting lugs or contact members 15, adapted to successively engage a spring-contact member 16 when the receiver is removed from or placed upon the hook, and thereby send a series of selective impulses over the main line 17 to the central office.

The number of impulses sent over the line will of course be goverend by the number of contacts 15 on the plates 8, the plates at one station having a different number of contacts from the plate of an adjacent station, so as to indicate a different signal for each subscriber.

The plates 8 in addition to carrying the contact members also form counterweights, so that when the receiver is removed from the hook the inner end thereof will drop by gravity and cause the contacts to wipe the members 16, and thus close the circuit.

As a means for limiting the downward movement of the weighted end of the hook a stop 17 is secured to the interior walls of the call-box. The stop 17 is provided with a slot 18, whereby said stop may be adjusted vertically to regulate the throw of the hook, said stop being locked in adjusted position by tightening the clamping-screw 19. i

If desired, a spring 20 may also be disposed above the hook to assist in moving the latter to operative position.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the receiver is removed from the hook at any particular subscribers station the weighted end thereof will drop by gravity, and thus successively make and break the circuit according to the number of contacts on the plate 8, and when the receiver is replaced upon the hook the return movement of the latter will cause a similar set of impulses to be sent over the line.

It will also be understood that should any articular subscriber endeavor to intrude or isten to another subscriber the subscriber using the line will be notified of the fact by the signal.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of receiver-hook in which the bar 5 is straight or uninterrupted, the plate 8 being detachably secured thereto in the manner before described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A telephone-hook having one end thereof provided with a detachable contact-plate carrying a plurality of make and break members for indicating the local station as the receiver is removed from or placed upon the hook, and an adjustable stop disposed beneath the hook for limiting the downward v movement thereof.

2. A telephone switch-hook comprising a bar having one end thereof bifurcated and twisted to form-a support for a receiver and its opposite end provided with an offset portion, and a plate detachably secured to the bar and seated in the offset portion of the latter, said plate having one lon itudinal edge thereof provided with a plura ity of spaced laterally-extending lugs forming contacts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DENIS HOWARD.

Witnesses ERNEST DECKER, WILLIAM HOWARD. 

